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Understanding How Outdoor Adventure Education Experiences Can Support Gap Year Students' Transition to College.

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Title: Understanding How Outdoor Adventure Education Experiences Can Support Gap Year Students' Transition to College.
Authors: Froehly, Michael1 (AUTHOR) mfroehly@salemstate.edu, Sibthorp, Jim1 (AUTHOR), Rochelle, Shannon2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Experiential Education. Dec2025, Vol. 48 Issue 4, p582-602. 21p.
Subject Terms: *Gap years, *Postsecondary education, *Adventure education, *Qualitative research, *College student adjustment, *Vocational interests, *Young adults, Social cohesion
Abstract: Background: The transition to college can be a stressful and challenging time for young people. Research has found that taking a gap year before, or even during college, can support those who are transitioning to college. In addition, outdoor adventure education (OAE) programs have been found to be developmentally beneficial for emerging adults. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand how OAE programs taken during a gap year can support emerging adults' transition to college. Methodology/Approach: This study utilized semi-structured interviews to collect qualitative data from participants. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic coding. Findings/Conclusion: OAE programs helped participants find a clearer career path, overcome challenged in college, build community, and take college more seriously. In addition, other gap year experiences, such as volunteering, traveling, and working, were also beneficial. Implications: Gap years should be considered a viable and important opportunity to support young people who are transitioning to postsecondary education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Experiential Education is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: Understanding How Outdoor Adventure Education Experiences Can Support Gap Year Students' Transition to College.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Froehly%2C+Michael%22">Froehly, Michael</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> mfroehly@salemstate.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sibthorp%2C+Jim%22">Sibthorp, Jim</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rochelle%2C+Shannon%22">Rochelle, Shannon</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Experiential+Education%22">Journal of Experiential Education</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 48 Issue 4, p582-602. 21p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gap+years%22">Gap years</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Postsecondary+education%22">Postsecondary education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adventure+education%22">Adventure education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+student+adjustment%22">College student adjustment</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vocational+interests%22">Vocational interests</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Young+adults%22">Young adults</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+cohesion%22">Social cohesion</searchLink>
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  Data: Background: The transition to college can be a stressful and challenging time for young people. Research has found that taking a gap year before, or even during college, can support those who are transitioning to college. In addition, outdoor adventure education (OAE) programs have been found to be developmentally beneficial for emerging adults. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand how OAE programs taken during a gap year can support emerging adults' transition to college. Methodology/Approach: This study utilized semi-structured interviews to collect qualitative data from participants. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic coding. Findings/Conclusion: OAE programs helped participants find a clearer career path, overcome challenged in college, build community, and take college more seriously. In addition, other gap year experiences, such as volunteering, traveling, and working, were also beneficial. Implications: Gap years should be considered a viable and important opportunity to support young people who are transitioning to postsecondary education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Experiential Education is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/10538259251347505
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 582
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      – SubjectFull: Gap years
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Postsecondary education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adventure education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College student adjustment
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      – SubjectFull: Vocational interests
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      – SubjectFull: Young adults
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      – TitleFull: Understanding How Outdoor Adventure Education Experiences Can Support Gap Year Students' Transition to College.
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            NameFull: Froehly, Michael
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            NameFull: Sibthorp, Jim
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            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
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